Post by gitabooks on Jul 2, 2016 15:13:11 GMT -5
A few days ago our local shelter (which I volunteer at regularly) got a ferret brought in that was found on someones back-porch, obviously ready to be done "playing" and get back to its cozy bed. We are calling it Bubba until we find its owner again and can reunite them.
Bubba was found in Marysville, Ohio and is a carmel colored sable.
Not only did I want to put that out there, but I also want to encourage anyone else who may be missing a ferret not to give up. We lost one of our ferrets and so learned some methods of how to go about finding them. If they get into the outdoors, don't assume they will just wander off forever. Ferrets like to be near a building or shrubbery, a natural instinct to avoid hawks from above. When I took my little guys on walks they always ran straight towards home, no matter how far they were from it. They have a sense of direction and a goal in their head. Search around your porch, bushes, out-buildings, tunnels, garage, trash-cans, ect.
Call for your ferret, rattle food in a can, make a trail of strong-smelling treats, leave a blanket or familiar smelling object outdoors, squeak their favorite toy or a ring a "dinner" bell that it was taught to respond to. Whatever works, don't give up. It can take a few hours for a ferret to tire enough to want to come back for some snuggles, a nap and some good food. If you keep up the calling it may stay in the area until it is ready to return.
If your ferret is still missing by dusk, don't give up yet. Let the neighbors know that your ferret is missing and explain what it looks like and that it is friendly and not some sort of wild, rabid weasel but a loving pet who just got out of the house. Most people will gladly keep an eye out once they know someone is looking.
Call the local shelter/rescue and give a photo and/or description of your ferret and where it was last seen as well as when. Leave your contact info and make sure they will distribute this to other local shelters/rescues as sometimes someone may take a ferret to a shelter they know better instead of to the closest one to them.
Continue searching, animals sometimes come back after weeks, months or years of being gone. It may be someone found your ferret and thought no one care for it and so decided to keep it. In this case, a collar, harness or microchip helps a lot in letting people know that ferret is cared for an has an owner and a home. Posters around the neighborhood, rewards offered, letting people know on Facebook or other ways such as the local newspaper can also let people know.
A method I have always been interested in trying is to hire someone with a tracking dog to use it to track down the lost ferret. Ferrets have a distinct odor that a dog will naturally want to follow wants it locks onto it. As long as the do as simply a search dog and not a hunting dog this is one of the fastest, safest ways to find a missing pet. However, be prepared to pay the owner of the dog for the trouble of coming out to your property and helping you.
I hope this helps anyone who is missing a ferret or who may have found a stray/lost ferret. Remember, ferrets are extremely resilient. They may go hungry or they may get fleas, but even if gone for a while, it doesn't mean they are gone forever. Keep searching. Finding them is worth it.
Bubba was found in Marysville, Ohio and is a carmel colored sable.
Not only did I want to put that out there, but I also want to encourage anyone else who may be missing a ferret not to give up. We lost one of our ferrets and so learned some methods of how to go about finding them. If they get into the outdoors, don't assume they will just wander off forever. Ferrets like to be near a building or shrubbery, a natural instinct to avoid hawks from above. When I took my little guys on walks they always ran straight towards home, no matter how far they were from it. They have a sense of direction and a goal in their head. Search around your porch, bushes, out-buildings, tunnels, garage, trash-cans, ect.
Call for your ferret, rattle food in a can, make a trail of strong-smelling treats, leave a blanket or familiar smelling object outdoors, squeak their favorite toy or a ring a "dinner" bell that it was taught to respond to. Whatever works, don't give up. It can take a few hours for a ferret to tire enough to want to come back for some snuggles, a nap and some good food. If you keep up the calling it may stay in the area until it is ready to return.
If your ferret is still missing by dusk, don't give up yet. Let the neighbors know that your ferret is missing and explain what it looks like and that it is friendly and not some sort of wild, rabid weasel but a loving pet who just got out of the house. Most people will gladly keep an eye out once they know someone is looking.
Call the local shelter/rescue and give a photo and/or description of your ferret and where it was last seen as well as when. Leave your contact info and make sure they will distribute this to other local shelters/rescues as sometimes someone may take a ferret to a shelter they know better instead of to the closest one to them.
Continue searching, animals sometimes come back after weeks, months or years of being gone. It may be someone found your ferret and thought no one care for it and so decided to keep it. In this case, a collar, harness or microchip helps a lot in letting people know that ferret is cared for an has an owner and a home. Posters around the neighborhood, rewards offered, letting people know on Facebook or other ways such as the local newspaper can also let people know.
A method I have always been interested in trying is to hire someone with a tracking dog to use it to track down the lost ferret. Ferrets have a distinct odor that a dog will naturally want to follow wants it locks onto it. As long as the do as simply a search dog and not a hunting dog this is one of the fastest, safest ways to find a missing pet. However, be prepared to pay the owner of the dog for the trouble of coming out to your property and helping you.
I hope this helps anyone who is missing a ferret or who may have found a stray/lost ferret. Remember, ferrets are extremely resilient. They may go hungry or they may get fleas, but even if gone for a while, it doesn't mean they are gone forever. Keep searching. Finding them is worth it.
